During
the Christmas season, I reflect a great deal on the year’s events.
As usual, 2015 has been a doozy of a ride. While I attempt
with all my heart to alert the American people as to our country’s challenges, I
would rather write about the beauty, adventure and joy of living. I
am laboring on a new book to publish in early 2016: Happiness—Living
Your Life On Your Own Terms.

Nonetheless,
over the weekend in Denver, Colorado, I attended Mark Rogers’
brilliant presentation:

Nonetheless,
over the weekend in Denver, Colorado, I attended Mark Rogers’
brilliant presentation: "DaVinci & Michelangelo—Titans
Side by Side". You can access it at
www.discoverdavinci.com
. Mr. Rogers presents spectacular and compelling oratory on
two of the most brilliant minds of the Renaissance in Italy. Among
other artists like Gian Lorenzo Bernini and Raffaello
Sanzio da Urbino, known as Raphael—the
Dark Ages faded with paintings that released the death grip of the
Church of Rome on peoples’ understanding of the world. Science
leapt to the forefront of humanity’s grand march. I’ve
studied Leonardo DaVinci and Michelangelo during my lifetime. They
dealt with the same vagaries of living as all of us. They
competed against each other. DaVinci stood tall and handsome.
DaVinci hated war, but created war machines. Michelangelo,
short and unattractive, hated painting but bequeathed us with the
Sistine Chapel.

When
I walked into the Vatican the first time, I saw Michelangelo’s
“Mother and Child” with a young Mary cradling Jesus in her arms
after soldiers took him off the cross. Men and women weep at
the sight of Michelangelo’s most famous work. He continued
creating incredible works of art through his 88th year.

Thus,
here in America, you also enjoy the ability to create great life work
in your chosen field. I urge you to lend your energy,
enthusiasm and love into your life’s passion. It’s what I
have done to make my life productive, creative, adventurous and
happy. I give up all my secrets in my forthcoming book.

As
you grew up, you experienced different lessons along your life-path.
You discovered a hot stove hurt when you touched it. A
candle flame caused pain when you passed your finger over it. A
rosebush thorn made your finger bleed. A bee sting caused you
terrible agony.

(Arches
National Park features Delicate Arch that offers a “gem” of
understanding to those who seek it out in the desert. You must
climb to reach it. You must experience heat, altitude and struggle to
attain your goal. You must understand that all creative
processes take time and lots of work, whether by nature or by your
own hand.) Photography by Frosty Wooldridge

From
those experiences, you avoided the obvious in your daily
meanderings. Marching into your teens, you discovered
friendship, jealousy and betrayal. A bully beat you up. A
girlfriend undermined you in your pursuit of a boyfriend.

In
nature, you learned to run for cover during a lightning storm.
When a dog gave chase, you picked up a stick to protect yourself.

You
learned life-lessons either by your parents advising you or you
learned the hard way by direct experience.

As
you grew into your twenties, relationships grew more complicated, you
worked a job with acerbic bosses and cantankerous fellow employees.
You discovered many different aspects to how people operate in the
world.

Along
the way, you picked up new understandings and created game plans on
how to deal with your circumstances.

All
the while, you became a better you. But sometimes, you wondered
about your choices or predicaments.

I’m
reminded of the ancient king who held court each day. He
beckoned the local sage for words of wisdom. Each day for a year, the
sage brought the king an overly ripe piece of fruit along with a
witty statement. When the sage left, the king tossed the fruit
into a hole in a pillar where it fell to the basement, untouched.

One
day, after the sage gave the king the overly ripe fruit, he turned to
exit, but noticed the king tossing the fruit into the pillar.

“What
are you doing?” asked the sage. “Did you not know I gifted
you with a gem in the middle of each fruit?”

The
king made an excuse before the sage exited the throne room.
Quickly, the king ordered a knave to recapture the fruit.

The
king cut it open to reveal a valuable gem. He said, “I never knew
such beauty could be found inside an aged piece of fruit.”

The
king ordered his staff to recover the gems from all the fruits in the
basement. The gems of knowledge enlightened him, which allowed
him greater understanding. He became a better king for all the
people of his realm.

The
great writer Thomas Moore said that every person faces the
deadly turpitudes of living: obsessions, addictions, depression, loss
of meaning, judging others, violence, anger, hate and prejudice.

It’s
your challenge to connect with the divine in you. You might
call it the “spiritual” within you. Choose to identify with
your higher self. That quest creates a transformation that
leads to your better well-being and better choices.

When
bad things happen to you, decode the experience to see the gem.
As you discover the synchronicity of the lesson, take advantage of
it. Synchronicity coupled with purpose equals “coincidence.”

Once
you step into the “flow” of life, those synchronicities multiply
because your energies coordinate with the natural vibrations of the
universe.

Engage
these talents: walk in the light, walk tall, walk with a song, walk
strong, walk wise, walk with hope, walk with joy, walk with purpose
and walk with passion. People notice your demeanor. You
attract them to their own higher self.

Take
advantage of a bitter experience, betrayal of a friend, unfair
treatment by another or any of the overly ripe experiences of life.
You will find a “gem” in the rotten fruit that will enhance your
life beyond all ordinary understanding.

Finally,
this Christmas season, a movie titled “Joy" with Jennifer
Lawrence, Bradley Cooper and Robert Di Nero best describes
everything I have shared with you in this chapter out of my
forthcoming book. By watching the movie, you will learn the
pitfalls so you can avoid them. You will be inspired and
encouraged to seek your fortune on your own journey. You will
find that “genius” by DaVinci and Michelangelo took hours
and years of hard work, perseverance and attitude. No matter
what your talent, you must “work” it. Choose to make
your journey one that makes your parents’, colleagues and friends
proud. Most of all, seek to be happy in your life by following
your heart while being guided by your mind.

Facebook
page: Frosty Wooldridge

Facebook
Adventure Page: How to Live a Life of Adventure: The Art of Exploring
the World

(You
will find all of my latest articles and pictures on how to live a
wildly adventurous life)